Marks and Spencer has launched its new own-brand toilet roll packaging featuring bowel cancer symptoms to raise awareness and encourage customers to contact their doctor if they have concerns.
The new packaging includes a Bowel Cancer UK symptoms infographic and a QR code that redirects customers to the charity’s website to find out more about symptoms and all the help available.
The retailer introduced signage into customer and colleague toilets in June and has also made a £50,000 donation to support the charity’s lifesaving work.
Other major retailers have since joined in, including Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose as part of Bowel Cancer UK’s #GetOnARoll campaign.
It is hoped that by adding symptoms, lives could be saved through early detection. Bowel Cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer.
Nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK however, the disease is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.
The idea originated from M&S clothing and home colleague Cara Hoofe, who was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2016 at 32 years old.
She was inspired to put forward the idea by the fundraising and campaigning efforts of Deborah James and submitted it to M&S’ ‘Straight to Stuart; colleague suggestion scheme.
The scheme encourages colleagues to share ideas directly with CEO Stuart Machin, with a quick response guaranteed.
“I’m extremely proud to play my part in removing some of the embarrassment around bowel cancer and normalise speaking to your doctor about symptoms or if something just doesn’t feel right. Early detection is so important, and I hope we can get people talking and help to save lives,” Hoofe said
Earlier this year, M&S also extended its partnership with Check4Cancer. All M&S colleagues have access to an online risk assessment tool, with those at ‘higher risk’ of bowel, breast, cervical, lung and prostate cancer eligible for a personalised screening programme.
“At the heart of all this is our mission to stop people dying from bowel cancer. It’s the UK’s second biggest cancer killer – but it doesn’t have to be,” Bowel Cancer UK CEO Genevieve Edwards said.
“Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. Part of the problem is low awareness of the red flag symptoms of bowel cancer, like changes in bowel habit, bleeding from your bottom and blood in your poo, that should prompt people to contact their GP straight away.”
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It seems to me that this is also an opportunity to highlight Bladder Cancer awareness.